Ingrid Berghmans
Six world titles when women's judo went global
- Born
- August 24, 1961, Koersel, Belgium
- Nationality
Belgium- Height
- 180 cm (5′11″)
- Stance
- Left
- Style
- Uchi makikomi specialist
- Weight
- 72 kg, +72 kg, Open
- Active
- 1979–1989
- Status
- Retired · age 65
The medals
6 world titles (11 world medals); 1988 Olympic gold in a demonstration event
The story
ngrid Berghmans of Koersel was one of the first stars of women's international judo. At the first women's World Championships, in New York in 1980, she won the open category, which has no weight limit, and she won it again in 1982, 1984 and 1986. She also won the 72 kg world title in 1984 and 1989, finishing with six world titles and 11 world medals in all, plus seven European titles. When women's judo appeared at the Olympics as a demonstration sport in Seoul in 1988, she won the 72 kg event, although demonstration golds do not count as official Olympic medals. Belgium named her its sportswoman of the year eight times, and the IJF added her to its Hall of Fame in 2013.
- World champion, open category (1980, 1982, 1984, 1986)
- World champion, 72 kg (1984, 1989)
- Olympic demonstration-event champion, 72 kg (1988)
- European champion (7 titles, 1983–1989)
- IJF Hall of Fame (2013)
- Belgian Sportswoman of the Year (8 times)
Defining matches
- 1980WINvs Paulette Fouillet (first women's World Championships, open final, New York)
- 1984WINvs Marjolein van Unen (World open final, Vienna, a day after winning the 72 kg title)
- 1986WINvs Li Jinlin (World open final, Maastricht; fourth open title)
- 1988WINvs Bae Mi-jung (Seoul Olympic 72 kg demonstration final)
- 1989WINvs Yoko Tanabe (World 72 kg final, Belgrade; sixth world title)
Berghmans' favourite finish, uchi makikomi, wraps the opponent's arm and rolls them over your hip as you commit to the mat. It suits a lighter player facing a bigger one, but only if you trap the arm tight and turn fully; a half-committed makikomi just gives the opponent your back.
